Amusement ride

ABSTRACT

An amusement ride in which a passenger carrier or cab is conveyed by a chain or the like to the top of a substantially vertical tower and is there released from the chain so that the cab drops in substantially free-fall to a region along the tower where it is braked to a halt or to a reduced speed. The cab near the end of the aforementioned braking zone is again engaged by a chain and is moved downwardly to the bottom of the tower and then again released for movement horizontally to near a loading position. After the cab is again loaded, it is moved into engagement with the first mentioned conveying chain and is carried thereby to the top of the tower for another free-fall cycle. The entire structure is mounted on a trailer vehicle and the tower is so constructed that it can be collapsed on the vehicle for transporting.

United States Patent [191 Barber AMUSEMENT rubs inventor: Gerald L. Barber, 309 Cardinal Dr..

Taylors, S.C. 29687.

Filed: Apr. 24, 1974 Appl. No.: 463,445

US. Cl. 104/76; 104/53; 104/129; 104/172 S; 272/6;272/29', 272/38 Int. Cl. A63 1/08 Field ol Search 104/53, 66, 69, 74, 75, 104/76, 127, 128. 129. 172 R, 172 S; 272/6,

Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Nishizawa 104/127 X i 51 Apr. 24, 1974 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Randolph A. Reese vAttorney. Agent, or Firme-Melvin A. Crosby ABST AC An amusement .ride in which a passenger carrier or cab isconveyed by a chain ,or the like to the top of a substantially vertical tower and is there released from the chain so that the cabdrops in substantially freelall to a region along the tower where it is braked to a halt or to a reduced speed. The cab near the end of the aforementioned braking zone is again engaged by a chain, and is moved downwardiy-to the bottom of the tower and then again released for. movement horizontally to near a loading position. After the cab is again loaded, it is moved into-engagement with the first mentioned conveying .chain and is carried thereby to the top of the tower for another free-fall cycle.

The entire structureis mounted on a trailer vehicle and thetower is so constructed that it can be collapsed on the vehicle for transporting.

FREE FALL 311a ugugg1 1271975 3.885.503

SHEET 3 FIE. El

l AMUSEMENT RIDE The present invention relates to an amusement ride device and is particularly concerned with an amusement ride having a passenger cab which is conveyed to the top of a substantially vertical tower and permitted to drop in free-fall for 'a-ccrtain distance therefrom.

Amusement rides of many different types are known and quite a number depend for popularity upon rapid acceleration which quite often involves moving a passenger cab through curves and the like.

The present invention in concerned with a novel amusement ride in which a passenger compartment. or cab. is conveyed to a certain heighth and is then permitted to drop in substantially free-fall for a substantial distance. The cab is guided throughout its travel in the device and remains under control exeept'in respect of the vertical movement during the freefall-period.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel amusement ride of the nature referred to above.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an amusement ride which is moanted-on'a trailer vehicle and which can be collapsed directly on the vehicle for transporting.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an amusement ride which involves a vertically elongated tower with the tower being so con structed and arranged that it can be collapsed to a relatively small height. thereby to permit the device to be transported from place to place.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention. an endless track arrangement is provided arranged somewhat in the form of an I. with a shorter substantially horizontal lower portion and an elongated substantially vertical portion.

At least one cab. or passenger compartment. is provided which is guided on the track and associated with the track is a conveying chain which will attach to the cab when the cab is along the lower horizontal portion of the track and convey the cab upwardly to the top of the vertical portion of the track.

At the vertical portion of the track. the cab is released from the chain and is dropped in substantially free-fall vertically along the track to a lower region along the vertical portion of the track where it encounters braking means that will brake the cab either to a holt or to a greatly reduced speed.

The braked cab is then engaged by a conveyor chain. which may be a different chain from the first mentioned one. and is conveyed downwardly along the vertical portion of the track through the braking zone andthen moves along the horizontal portion to an unloadbrakcd and comes to a halt.

When the cab is again loaded. it can be moved either manually or by power means into engagement with the first mentioned conveyor chain and is then again conveyed upwardly to the top of the tower to be released for another free-fall cycle.

The tower is constructed on a trailer vehicle for movement from place to place and is jointed so that it can be collapsed into a plurality of substantially horizontally extending sections on the trailer vehicle. In collapsed condition the overall height of the entire device is such that the trailer vehicle can be connected to a tractor and then moved front place to place without encountering any problems of vertical clearance of the collapsed tower structure.

The objectives referred to above as well as still other 5 objects and advantages of the present invention. and

to drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the tower in erected condition.

FIG. 2 is a front view looking in at the amusement ride of the present invention from the right side of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the main conveyor chain and the manner in which it engages a carriagefrom which a passenger compartment I is'suspendcd.

, 20 ,'FIG. 4 is ascetional view'indicated by lines IV-IV on-FIGS. I and 2 and-drawn at somewhat increased scale.-

FIG. 5 is a schematic view-looking in at the side of the lower portion of the endless track at the loading zone.

FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view indicated by line VI-Vl on FIG. I. and drawn at increased scale.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view indieated'by line Vll- -VII on FIG.)-6, and showing a joint arrangement provided in the tower to permit collapse thereof.

FIG. 8 is a view looking in fronithc side of FIG. 6 as indicated by line VIII-VIII on FIG. 6 and showing the manner in which the joint in the tower is secured when the tower is erected.

35 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail;

in FIGS. I and 2. it will be seen that the amusement iridc according to the present invention comprises a trailer vehicle. generally designated by reference numeral I0. and having a'rearwardly disposed wheeled truck I2 with retractable support posts 14 near the front of the trailer vehicle.

Disposed along the trailer vehicle at a suitable point are lateral booms 16, the outer ends of which are providcd with ground engaging pads 18. The tower structure is connected to the outer ends of the booms 16 as by cables 20, thereby stabilizing the tower against tilting due to wind forces and the like. The booms 16 are either demountable or collapsible so that they do not extend outwardly beyond the trailer vehicle when the ride is collapsed for transport.

Mounted on the bed 22 of trailer vehicle 10 is a support structure. generally indicated at 24. and which i:

g in the form of a tower having a main elongated vertica ing and loading zone. and in which zone the cab is again portion. generally indicated at 26. and a smaller horizontal portion. generally indicated at 28. and extending laterally at the bottom of the vertical portion 26. Thr tower. as will be seen in FIG. 2.'has two side parts ar ranged in spaced parallel relation.

The tower has a first pivot joint therein at 30. a sec ond pivot joint therein at 32. and the bottom of the ver tical portion 28 of the tower is pivotally connected a 34 to the bed of the trailer vehicle. The arrangement i such that the lowermost section 36 of the vertical por tion 26 of the tower can be pivoted forwardly of th trailer bed about pivotal support 34. while the interme diate section 28 of the tower can pivot toward the rea about pivot 32, while the uppermost section 40 can pivot forwardly about pivot 30, whereby the vertical portion 26 of the tower can be collapsed to a substantially reduced height for transport.

That portion of the support structure 24 disposed forwardly on the trailer bed from the vertical portion 26 of the tower can be detachable or adjustable to provide space for the collapsing of sections 36, 38 and 40 of vertical portion 26 of the tower down on the trailer bed.

At pivot 30 a triangular plate 42 is provided pivoted on pivot 30 at one corner and fluid operable cylinders 44 are connected between the other corners of the plate and the respective sections 38 and 40 of the vertical portion 26 of the tower so that, by actuation of the cylinders, the portions 38 and 40 can be erected into the position shown in FIG. 1 or can be collapsed so as to be substantially flat against one another.

Similarly. a triangular plate 46 is provided having one corner pivoted to pivot 32 and having fluid motors 48 connected between the other corners and points on the adjacent sections 36 and 38 so that these sections also can be actuated by the fluid motors into erected position or collapsed position.

Finally, a still further fluid motor 50 is connected between lowermost section 36 and the bed of the trailer vehicle so that this section can be collapsed forwardly against the trailer bed or erected to the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

When the tower is erected, a jointed brace member 60 is provided connected between an upper region of vertical portion 26 of the tower and the forward portion of the trailer vehicle with a further brace member 62 having one end connected to the joint 64 of member 60 and the rear end pivotally connected at 66 to the rearward end of the trailer vehicle. This bracing arrangement insures that the tower will be firmly supported when in erected position while the brace membcr 60 and 62 can be disconnected from the tower and from each other and folded down flat on the trailer bed for transport.

The erected structure comprises an endless track generally designated at 68 and along which a vehicle carriage 70 is adapted to move with a passenger compartment 72 pivotally suspended from carriage 70 so as always to maintain an upright position.

The track referred to is made up of metal bars, rectangular, for example, arranged in spaced parallel relation, the said bars being designated 76 in FIG. 4. One set of the bars are provided on each lateral side of the tower structure. Bars 76 are fixedly secured to C- shaped support members 78 which are distributed along the length of the tower structure and fixed thereto as by welding. The bars 76 are in uniformly .spaced parallel relation and are adapted to engage rollers 80 and 82 provided on carriage 70 and while holding the rollers captive in the track. This will be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 with FIG. 3 also showing the pivot 84 by means of which the carriage 70 swingably supports compartment or cab 72.

The C-shaped support members 78 referred to above are so distributed on the tower structure that a pair thereof are disposed on each side of vertical portion 26 of the track at each of the joints and 32 therein.

As will be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the C-shaped members thus provide abutment to stop the sections of the tower in erected position and also provide means for holding the sections fixedly together. For example, as will be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, bolts 90 can be provided which extend through apertures 92 provided in adjacent ones of the C-shaped members 78 so that when the tower is erected it is firmly clamped together. FIGS. 7 and 8 also show the arrangement of pivot 30 which pivotally interconnects the adjacent sections 38 and.40 of the vertical portion 26 of the tower. while also providing pivotal support in the corner of triangular plate 42.

The various sections of the tower may be constructed of tubularmembers 94, as shown in FIG. 6, with plates 96 connected therebetween at the sides so as to leave the tower open adjacent the tracks. Lateral and inclined reinforcing elements, as indicated by the dotted lines 98 in FIG. 1, can be provided for bracing the two lateral sides of the tower structure relative to each other.

Since the tower, as seen in FIG. 2, comprises two side members which are substantially independent at the very top of vertical portion 26 of the tower, there is an inverted U-shaped yoke member 100 connected between the two sides of the tower in order to fix them together. ln the intermediate region of the tower as, for example, in section 38 thereof, there may additionally be provided the X bracing 102 which, as will be seen in FIG. 6, is disposed about midway in the vertical portion of the tower in the fore and aft directions.

The C-shaped-supports 78 "also support the opposed U-shaped channel elements 104 which, when the tower is erected, are substantially continuous around the tower and provide a guideway for a conveyor chain 106. This conveyor chain, as will be seen in FIG. I, is engaged by a drive sprocket 108 near the forward end of horizontal portion 28 of the tower and which sprocket is connected for being driven by a drive motor via a belt or chain 110. The conveyor chain 106 is guided by sprocket 108 around the end of the left end of the horizontal portion 28 of the tower and then upwardly along the forward side of the vertical portion of the tower and is entrained about a sprocket 112 at the top of the tower. At this point, it will be understood that the conveyor chain is, in fact, a pair of chains with one pertaining to each side section of the tower.

The conveyor chain leaving sprocket 112 is guided down the rearwardly facing side of the tower and then separates from the path of the passenger cab by passing about a sprocket 114 from which the chain then moves downwardly on an incline toward the first mentioned drive sprocket 108.

A passenger cab 72 will be loaded while on the lower horizontal portion 28 of the tower structure. The cab is shown in FIG. I in loading position. The passengers enter and leave the trailer bed by stairway means I16 and are confined on the trailer bed as by the fence means 118. In the loading region, where the cab 72 is illustrated in the bottom of FIG. 1, there is no driving I chain and when the cab. or compartment, is loaded it is manually moved by the operator outwardly toward drive sprocket 108 and into engagement with the chain means 106 and which, as mentioned, consists of a respcctivc chain on each side of the tower.

When the cab or passenger compartment is moved within the region of sprocket I08 so as to be engaged by the chain means. the engagement is effected as will be seen in FIG. 3. The chain means 106 in FIG. 3 has brackets I20 thereon and each bracket has a laterally extending plate 122. Each carriage 70, or each passenger compartment.1has a lever elcmcnt l24 connected thereto as by 'a"'pivot l26 a'nd each leverl ple'ment is? v rd' the ositioh-i'f" I,

" l$2 car ricd on'the. sides ofthe-carriage on the cab and =spring"i1rged{by. sprihgs=154 in the outward direction. 5 By seiecting'i 'thesprings?I54 and thematerial of the jfr'iction pads fand'the brak'e pads. and the inclination of I 4 therma -3150a yi'desireddegreeof braking effect can FIG. '3, will-bring aboutpositive engageIthgeirtof,'ithe.

chain with the earn compartment will jthereby be drive'nfbyfltlte chain" *cordirig'to the'present invention canbe accomplished around the arcuate left end of theho'ri'z'ontal lower' po'rtion 28 and then up verticalpo'rtion goof the tower. U

When the carriage passes aroundthe' uppeir end of the track to the topof. that portion of the towerwhich is marked FREE FALLS: the carriage will be bia'sed I r either be moved'laterally ordisconnected from the by gravity in suchadirection that thdcar'riag'e'ltsiill run ahead of thechainand willdrop downtherange of free fall substantially freely of the actionofgravity During fold downwardly free fall. lever element-124 will ratchet qver'anyplates 122 in the path thereof.l At the bottom of the freefall rangeisa second range marked Braking andwithin this range the passenger 6 m' f'lhe-cab. or compartment. around th ma 4 t A "fCoopera ting withbrake pads ISO are. friction pads bepxert'd;onithefpassenger cab; or compartment. as

l0jthe'yfrhove through'th'e brakingzone.

{it will beevidentthat the {collapsing of the has acrelatively simply by disconnecting the sections'of the tower from each other-adjacent pivots 30 and '32 and IScollapsln'g these sectionsbyutilizing' the fluid motors 44,18 and 50.-Th'e"parts'of thestructure disposed forwardly"on the trailer bed fromthe vertical "tower-can .tr'a'ile'rbed inbrder to providespacefor the tower to "The chain'guideway in -'the'form of channels 104 is.

of course; separable'at eachpoiritthat the tower separates during collapsingand the chain means 106 running in the chain guideway is preferably disconnected cab or compartment is braked substantially to a halt,:or 25 mid-mum there'aimg so it does not interfere to such reduced speed thatit will again be overtaken by the chain means 106 and driven on'downwardly to'the' lower end of the braking zonewhich is-located at about the level of sprocket 114." At this point the cabis' released and moves by gravity down the-remainder of vertical portion of the tower-andaround.the.curve at the lower end thereof and toward the loadingzonew' 1 I A second braking arrangement is provided -for slowing down the compartment or cab, afterit rounds-the 3 curve at the bottom-.This'braking zone willi b'rin'g the cab, or compartment: to a -haltat-' about"- thei; point v marked 0 in FIG. l,"andfatIwhichpoint the c reer,

compartment, is within'the range'of a selectively opera ble second drive chain MOJPQintU-may form'the bei 40 in'any'way with the collapse of the tower. The cabs, or passenger compartments, can readily be stored on the trailer deck and-allot" the supports and braces such as [elements 0jand 62 and the booms l6 and the like can 30 be knocked down andloaded on the trailer bed. The erection of the structure is relatively simple and can be accomplished quickly and the collapsing thereof can be accomplished relatively quickly. Y

I in 'n' amusement ridetfendiess track means'in the form'o'f a loop comprising a vertical portionand a horiz'ontal' portionte tending' laterally from the'bottom of the've'rticel'portionea' earriagehavinga passenger compartmen't' s uspehded therefrom and captive on the track means for movement in one direction therearound. first conveyor means operable to engage the carriage in'a first predetermined position on said horizontal position and tomove the carriage to the top of said vertical portion and to release the carriage thereat for free fall along the vertical portion, cooperating brake elementsortsaid carriage and on said vertical portion nearthe bottom thereof forming first brake means for. brakingflsaid *carriage, second conveyor means operable to engage and move the carriage out near the righ end of Chain it can d" 'Ithe' bottom ofthe first brake-means for movement to a into the loading zonemarked L at the will of the operator. Within loading zone L, as mentioned previously, the cab is disconnected from all chains and will remain stationary until pushed toward sprocket l08-and the main drive chain by the operator.

The aforementioned region of the apparatus. showing unloading zone U. loading atone L. and chain 140 is shown in FIG. 5. which also shows the location of the brake pads 15] in that region. 4

With reference to the brakes provided within the main braking zone. along the vertical portion of the tower and in the zone where the cab. or compartment. stops in operative association with chain H0. each of the brakes may consist of elongated brake pad means carried by the tower on each sideias. for example. by being secured to thc C-shaped supports 78 and second predetermined position on said horizontal portion. second brake means'for arresting the carriage in said second predetermined position, and selectively operable'means for moving saidcarriage from said second predetermined position toward said first predetermined position. allmovementsof said carriage being in said one direction around said endless track means.

2. An amusement ride according to claim I in which each of said vertical and horizontal portions of said track means comprises coplanar spaced parallel straight sections and curved sections interconnecting said straight sections.

3. An amusement ride according to claim I in which said track means comprise laterally spaced endless 'tracks'in respective vertical planes which are parallel 4. Anamuscment ride-according to claim 1 inawhicl' said first-conveyor means comprises chain mean:

7 l guided along said track means. and cooperating elements of one-way drive means on said chain means and .i on said carriage. 5 1 1 i i 5. An amusement ride accordingto claimfijjn-which f said one-way drive means compr ises,; a "plate on one of said carriage and first conveyor chain means and a pawl a" pivotally mounted on the other thereof. said "plate'and pawl engaging tocausei'said convcyo'rg jchainmeans to move said carriage'in said onediree'tionfwhilepermit ting said carriage to over} rant-said onve'yorlchain It means in said one direction; .i l

6. An amusement ride-according to clarmil'in which 1 said first conveyor imeans comprises*chain {means guided along said-traekmcani'andcoopcrating elements of one-way drive meanson said chain means and on said carriage, said first an'd'seeondconveyor means comprising one and thesamechain means.

7. An amusement rideaccording to claim 65in which said selectively operable-meanscomprises'furthenconveyor chain means engageable with a carriage'in said second predetermined position and selectively operable to move the carriage toward said first-predetermined position. a M

8. An amusement ride according to claim 7 in which said further conveyor chain means rcleasessaid car-- riage prior to the carriage reaching saidfirst predetermined position. said carriage thereafter heing'manually 1 moveable into, said first predetermined position.

9. An amusement ride accordingto claim 8 in which: said first conveyor chain-means extendsfrom near said first predetermined positiononlsaid horizontal portion; of said track meansalong'saidtrack means'in saidonefflj direction to the exit end of the saidbrak'e meansalon'gj the vertical portion of said track means, a first motorfor driving said first chain means continuously .in said: one direction. said second conveyor chain" means comprising endless chain means extending fromnea'rsaid second predetermined position to near'said first predeterminted position. and a second motor for driving said second conveyor chain means and adapted for selective 40- energization.

10. An amusement ride according to claim! which includes a framework supporting said endless track means, i

I 'work' andiconnect'ed to I on theframeworlel;

trailer bed for transp -lLfAnamuseme nt ride according to claim [0 in whic hfsaid trackmeans comprisesa pair'of tracks in spaced? parailel verticallplanes, each track comprising a-pair ol hars-in' uniformly spaced parallel relation in hjtheiplane "of thc respective. track. said carriage having a'paifiofgroovedrollers at each-side engaging the bars r'ia-ac'cmaing in diam n which includes support elements distributed along said f ramesaid tracltsto'support the tracks 13. Anfarn'usernent iride .according' to cram It in .whichfsaid conveyor means'include's a chain adjacent eaeh 'trachand chain guidingehannelsconnected to said support elements andguiding'said chains. e

14. An amusement ride according-to claim 1 which includesa framework supporting said endless track means;"saidflfram'eworltincludinga tower supporting said vertical portioniofsaid track-means. said tower being jointed to permit'c'ollapsin'g thereof for transporting of-the ride. 7 I 15. 'Anamusement ride according toclaim l which includes a trailerftype vehielehaving a bed. framework on said trailer bed supporting said-track means and includinga tower supportingsaidverticalportion of the track means. said tower being pivotally connected to said'vehi'cle bed and being jointed between the top and bottom;whcreby-said-tower can be collapsed on said l .6. An amusement; rlde ai'ccjording to claim :15 in whichsaidflframework-is morenarrowthansaid-trailcr hed iand ;railfmcansalong-opposite side edges of said bed definingpassenger walkwaysalong'each side of "(An amusement ride faccording'to claim I in which said brakei'means includebrake shoes on opposite sides ;-of the carriage andelongatedbrake strips adjacent the t'raelg rneans on'ea'ch-side of-the-carriage engageable withthe brake shoes said shoesand strips being spring biased toward each other. at least said strips converging in. said one direction.

side's 

1. In an amusement ride; endless track means in the form of a loop comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending laterally from the bottom of the vertical portion, a carriage having a passenger compartment suspended therefrom and captive on the track means for movement in one direction therearound, first conveyor means operable to engage the carriage in a first predetermined position on said horizontal position and to move the carriage to the top of said vertical portion and to release the carriage thereat for free fall along the vertical portion, cooperating brake elements on said carriage and on said vertical portion near the bottom thereof forming first brake means for braking said carriage, second conveyor means operable to engage and move the carriage out the bottom of the first brake means for movement to a second predetermined position on said horizontal portion, second brake means for arresting the carriage in said second predetermined position, and selectively operable means for moving said carriage from said second predetermined position toward said first predetermined position, all movements of said carriage being in said one direction around said endless track means.
 2. An amusement ride according to claim 1 in which each of said vertical and horizontal portions of said track means comprises coplanar spaced parallel straight sections and curved sections interconnecting said straight sections.
 3. An amusement ride according to claim 1 in which said track means comprise laterally spaced endless tracks in respective vertical planes which are parallel.
 4. An amusement ride according to claim 1 in which said first conveyor means comprises chain means guided along said track means, and cooperating elements of one-way drive means on said chain means and on said carriage.
 5. An amusement ride according to claim 4 in which said one-way drive means comprises a plate on one of said carriage and first conveyor chain means and a pawl pivotally mounted on the other thereof, said plate and pawl engaging to cause said conveyor chain means to move said carriage in said one direction while permitting said carriage to over run said conveyor chain means in said one direction.
 6. An amusement ride according to claim 1 in which said first conveyor means comprises chain means guided along said track means, and cooperating elements of one-way drive means on said chain means and on said carriage, said first and second conveyor means comprising one and the same chain means.
 7. An amusement ride according to claim 6 in which said selectively operable means comprises further conveyor chain means engageable with a carriage in said second predetermined position and selectively operable to move the carriage toward said first predetermined position.
 8. An amusement ride according to claim 7 in which said further conveyor chain means releases said carriage prior to the carriage reaching said first predetermined position, said carriage thereafter being manually moveable into said first predetermined position.
 9. An amusement ride according to claim 8 in which said first conveyor chain means extends from near said first predetermined position on said horizontal portion of said track means along said track means in said one direction to the exit end of the said brake means along the vertical portion of said track means, a first motor for driving said first chain means continuously in said one direction, said second conveyor chain means comprising endless chain means extending from near said second predetermined position to near said first predeterminted position, and a second motor for driving said second conveyor chain means and adapted for selective energization.
 10. An amusement ride according to claim 1 which includes a framework supporting said endless track means.
 11. An amusement ride according to claim 10 in which said track means comprises a pair of tracks in spaced parallel vertical planes, each track comprising a pair of bArs in uniformly spaced parallel relation in the plane of the respective track, said carriage having a pair of grooved rollers at each side engaging the bars of said tracks.
 12. An amusement ride according to claim 11 which includes support elements distributed along said framework and connected to said tracks to support the tracks on the framework.
 13. An amusement ride according to claim 11 in which said conveyor means includes a chain adjacent each track, and chain guiding channels connected to said support elements and guiding said chains.
 14. An amusement ride according to claim 1 which includes a framework supporting said endless track means, said framework including a tower supporting said vertical portion of said track means, said tower being jointed to permit collapsing thereof for transporting of the ride.
 15. An amusement ride according to claim 1 which includes a trailer type vehicle having a bed, framework on said trailer bed supporting said track means and including a tower supporting said vertical portion of the track means, said tower being pivotally connected to said vehicle bed and being jointed between the top and bottom whereby said tower can be collapsed on said trailer bed for transport.
 16. An amusement ride according to claim 15 in which said framework is more narrow than said trailer bed, and rail means along opposite side edges of said bed defining passenger walkways along each side of said framework.
 17. An amusement ride according to claim 1 in which said brake means include brake shoes on opposite sides of the carriage and elongated brake strips adjacent the track means on each side of the carriage engageable with the brake shoes, said shoes and strips being spring biased toward each other, at least said strips converging in said one direction. 